HOLIDAYMAKERS have been alerted to a popular scam targeting visitors to popular tourist destinations in Europe.
Whether you are visiting the Eiffel Tower or the Trevi Fountain, it is essential to be aware of the various dangers and how to avoid them.
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While most tourists are aware of taxi scams, only purchasing tickets to attractions from official companies and keeping their bags safe, there is a new risk tourists face this summer.
A “bracelet scam is sweeping Europe,” says travel expert Jessica Dante The Daily Express.
This is similar to the common scam where people give out free roses, usually to people who are dining at a restaurant or having a drink, to distract themselves while someone goes through their pockets.
The bracelet scam “uses the same principle, but the scammer will try to put a bracelet on your wrist,” Dante explained.
European cities such as Paris, Milan and Rome have been particularly identified as common locations for fraud.
Vacation tips in Rome website warns tourists in the Eternal City that scamming is “particularly common” there and that sellers will use “friendly chat” and “guilt” to take money from you.
While some will use the string bracelet as a distraction for pickpockets, others will pressure people, especially couples, to accept a “free” friendship bracelet before demanding money.
‘I RUN FOR MY LIFE’
A Paris tourist has shared his experience of encountering a scammer while in Montmartre, who saw him “run for his life” after pushing a group of men surrounding him.
“I was a victim of the bracelet scam… I’m kind of shocked. The whole thing was really scary,” he said in a TikTok video.
“It was very intimidating because he was a very big, tall man and he said ‘Take it, take it.’ And I said ‘No thanks, no thanks.’ Until he aggressively grabbed my arm, like, hurt me.
“The more I would like to resist, the more men, other scammers, would start walking towards me.
“And the other man said ‘Respect him. Respect it. Stay quiet.’ And I said ‘I’m respecting you, I just don’t want that, please let me go.’
“The same thing happened to me and my boyfriend on the way to Montmartre, they robbed us of around 150 euros,” replied another TikToker.
Meanwhile, a tourist in Rome spoke about Reddit about the time he saw a woman being yelled at by a scammer telling her to “delete the video or pay me!” while he threatened to call the police after giving her a bracelet.
“She frantically tried to tell him she didn’t have any video. He was very aggressive and she started showing pictures of herself… I jumped up, threw my arm around her and made her leave with me,” he explained.
“Someone was probably about to steal your now-unlocked phone and access every damn thing on it, and NEVER GET ENGAGED!”
GUILT
Couples should be especially aware of the scam, Dante said.
This is because “the scammer plays on romantic emotions, making one partner feel obligated to get involved and not dismiss the romantic gesture as hurting the partner’s feelings.”
Common tourist scams in European cities:
- Taxi scam – Only visit official stands. Insist that taxi drivers turn on the meter and if they say it is broken, leave, as this is a common fraud, as it is telling passengers that the price is higher than what is indicated on the meter.
- Petition – This is where tourists will be approached to sign a charity petition and often make a donation. This will be fake, with the money going elsewhere and you could be ripped off while signing.
- Pink or Friendship Bracelet – Used as a distraction for pickpockets or to pressure tourists into giving money, despite initially saying it was a “free” gift
- Street card games – These games attract large groups of people who are distracted by watching the game. This allows pickpockets to take items without being noticed. At the same time, those who play lose extra money.
- ATM scam – Some ATMs may be equipped with Skimmer devices that clone card information. Check the machine for anything loose or unusual before inserting the card. The best thing is to go to ATMs inside banks.
A man fell into this situation after being approached by a “He was a “very nice and talkative man.”
“He offered my wife and I a ‘free’ bracelet,” he explained on Reddit.
“I kindly refused, but he ended up putting a bracelet on both of our wrists and then demanded (quite aggressively) 10 euros, 5 euros per bracelet.”
While Dante advises people to “keep their distance and refuse immediately” when they come into contact with these scammers, other experts advise a harsher, “unnatural” approach.
The bracelet scam “takes advantage of the natural human instinct not to be impolite,” explain the experts at Rome Vacation Tips.
“So to combat the strange psychology of scamming, we need to act in an unnatural way.”
“Completely ignore the scammer… Act like he literally doesn’t exist.”
If a bracelet is already halfway on your wrist, it is advisable to push it off.
“We have recently heard reports of scammers becoming more aggressive and intimidating,” experts warned, making it even more vital that tourists refuse to interact with scammers in any way.
The Sun has previously reported on the advice given to tourists who visited Sacre Coeur and encountered the same scam.
Meanwhile, tourists in Florence have come across another type of scam involving fake art.
In Spain, a simple cash scam has authorities urging tourists to double-check their change.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
